Improvement in steam cloth-presses



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J. CRAWFORD, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

Letters Patent No. 96,893, dated November I6, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM CLOTH-PRESSES. i

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

declare -that the following isa full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

'lhe nature of my invention consists in providing a suitable device for cloth-presses, whereby steam tinishing-plates may be applied to the same, and operated. independently from each other, as desired.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a clothpress, with my improved device attached.

Figure 2 represents an end view.

Figures 3 and 4 represent details of the same.

Similar letters in the different figures indicate corsponding paits. l

In the construction of my device, a represents the base of the press, and b the top part, in the centre of which is secured a nut, in which operates the screw '0, said screw connecting with the follower d, in the usual manner.

The base a, and top b of the press being connected and secured together by means of the columns e e e c, which also serve as guides for the follower [Z and steam finishing-plates f f f.

Pivoted to each corner of the follower d, on its outv shape, with the size and shape of the racks g g g g,

thus serving as a guide for the same.

These sockets are secured to the tloor, or to the bottom part of the press a, as may be required by the operatcr.

In theoperation of my device, the same being designed and secured to the common hand and powerpresses that are operated from the top, by a screw or screws, c, the follower cl is raised to its highest point of elevation, carrying with it the plates fff, by means of the racks g g g g, with steps h It h, and lingers-i i t, these racks being guided by the sockets jjj j, which also keep the. plates in their required position with each other. l

When thus raised, the operator lills the space, as desired, between the base a and the bottom plate f, said plate having been previously raised to anyheight desired, and secured, which gives suicient room for filling the same. lVhen filled, the plate previously raised is let back to its former position, afterwhich each plate f is filled, in its turn, by a similar manner, until the entire press is filled, each plate being raised independent from each other, which greatly facilitates the operation of'filling.

When thus filled, the. required' pressure is given to thesame, after which it is subjected to the steaminishing process, as desired. The pressure is then removed by means of the screw c, raising the entire lot of plates ffj, with their contents'of linished material, to the highest elevation, and the material is removed easily and quickly, as the material, after going through this process, takes up but about onehalf the space as it did before being operated upon.

lhe objectv of my device heilig to apply the same to this class of presses, and supply them with steamnishing plates, which at the present-time are provided with plates that are heated and then placed in the press by hand, whereby, with the other devices for operating steam-plates, in order to furnish the same, an entire new press has t'o be furnished, in order that it may be effective, also at a g1eatco'st,while with my simple device, the main part of the old press is retained, furnishing the device which is more effective, and at a much less cost.

I do not claim, broadly, the stepped racks forsupporting the plates or platens, for racks of this construction I know to be old; but

What I do claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the follower or plunger d, movable racks g, and sockets j, when said parts are constructed and arranged to operate a's and for the purpose herein shown and-described.

'JOHN J. CRAWFORD;

vWitnesses GEOLE. Pnvnv,

It. T. Rawson. 

